A load of white clothes finished it's wash cycle and I noticed gray stains on the clothes where it was up against the sides of the tub. I pulled the clothes out and the spots matched the drain holes inside the tub. I ran my finger over one of the holes and it left a smear of "gunk" on my finger and the hole. I got a soft brush and brushed around the hole, once it was clean, the hole was actually smaller than it originally looked.

I used the brush around all the holes, which took time to do then I ran a cycle with just hot water and bleached (no clothes)...what was this stuff?

I have not run a load of clothes again, I am not sure if I should clean it with something else before I add clothes. And is there a way I can get the stains off the white clothes?

maryb12 On washer made today and even older washers .You should use a cleaner like 1 gallon of vinegar and let soak in hot water over night.They do sell cleaners for washers but vinegar is cheaper.And use a liquid soap in washer.I like H.E. detergent even in a regular non H.E washer.As these washers get older they start to build a film of dirt,old soap scum, bacteria which can cause odors.All washers made today have a plastic outer tub that you do not see and this has a tendency to stick stuff to outer tub.And this stuff is probably building ,growing on under tub were you put your clothes.Use some type of cleaner on the market or just plain vinegar once a month for any washer made today.Some of the new washer have a dispenser that you put in a tablet like affresh once a month and put washer on clean cycle just to clean washer itself.

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